Expansible diaphragms.



W. E. ZIER'DEN.

BXPANSIBLE DIAPHRAGMS.

APPLICATION FILED .VE'BB.16, 1912.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

Q1/1 QZ witnesses itomcgs UNITED STATES PATENT .our-ron WILLIAIVIv E. ZIERDEN, OF-JOHNSONBURG, PENNSYLVKNIA.

EXPANSIBLE DIAPHRAGMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sepan, 1914.

Application mea' February 1s, 1912.v serial No. 6721110.

able others skilled in the art to which it ap.

pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to expansible dia' phragms and has for an object to provide a diaphragm adapted for fluid pressure regulating mechanisms which permits the enlargement of the diaphragm above the maximum usually recognized.

In the employment of expansible Adiaphragms in fluid pressure regulating mechanisms it is vfound that the more sensitive diaphragms are those provided with annular or circumferential corrugations but the limit of diameter in. the use of such diaphragme is very quickly reached for the reason that the circumferential corrugations serve to permit 'the 'diaphragms to expand locally Without actuatin the' mechanism to which they are attache Itis also found under many conditions desirable to enlarge the diameter of such diaphragms to increase the accuracy and nicety of control.

The present invention embodies means for enlarging the diaphragmev to any desired diameter withoti departing from the flexibility of the diaphragme, produced by the annular corrugations and yet at the same time increasing the internal area upon which the pressure of the iuid is applied.

With these and other objectsin view the invention comprises 'certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter moreifullvdescribed and claimed. A

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a diametrical sectional view through a battery of diaphragms showin conventional retaining means and operate mechanism. Fig. 2 is a modification whereby diaphragms embodying a greater number of annular vcorrugationsmay be successfully employed.

Like characters of reference indicate -corresponding parts throughout the several views.

At Fig. 1 the diaphragms are 'shown `with a single annular rib 10 and a single annular -furrow 11, the peripherle's of such diaphragms being securedtogether -as shown at '12 whereby the opposing'plates form a receptacle for the reception ofthe fluid un- As shown therein the first der pressure. diaphragm in the series is provided with a substantially plane Iannular portion 13 which engages against the supporting member 14.

The opposite side of the diaphragm shown at 15 1s also plane and engages for any de.- 65

sired distance flatly against a similar plane portion 16 of the adjacent diaphragm. The

diaphragms are united in as great numbers as deslred, the last diaphragm being provided with a plane annular portion 17 abut- 70 ting against the plane ring 18 which is carried by the valve stem or otherhmovable member to be adjusted 19. The several diaphragms are united by substantially the usual and ordinary annular nuts 2O whereby' 'l5 the several diaphragms are in communica# tion and rendered Huid-tight so that the Huid admitted to the interior of the several diaphragms acts simultaneously upon all of such diaphragme. It will be a parent that the plane annular portion at t e center of the` diaphragme may be increased to as A great a diameter as desired so that the diameter of the diaphragms is thereby increased without interfering with vthe flexibility of the united diaphragrns.

As shown in Fig. 2, twol annular ribs 10 are employed 'with also, two annular furrows 11 forming suchI ribs. The increase in the number ofP corrugations produced by the urrovvs and ribs renders the outer por,` tion of the diaphragms too flexible so that under excessive pressure thediaphragms expand locally without moving the central portions. To prevent such ylocal expansion, K

rings 21 are inserted between the adjacent diaphragms which does not interfere in any way with the flexibility of the diaphragms in expanding to move the valve stem 19 but does prevent such local expansionv as would 1.00

interfere -with` the proper actuation of such valve stem. It will be apparent that i'f more annular lcorrugations are employed more' rings may also -be employed as found desirable. The function accomplished by the 10'5 central plane portion, as shown in Figfl,

and the rin sas shown in. Fig. 2, is to prevent the ad] acent members of adjacent diaphragms from approaching each other but to confine the expansion to an enlargement of the interior of the diaphragm by raising the central portion which is attached to the member to be adjusted.

I claim:-

A 'fluid pressure regulating device comprising a plurality of annular diaphragms composed of resilient material and formed with corrugations, a plane portion extending Within the corrugatedl portion of. the

10 diaphragms and a clamping member engaging part only of the plane portion and pairs.

in presence of two Witnesses. v

WILLIAM E. ZIERDEN. lVitnesses F. S. ODONNEL, i O F. W. BAYLESS.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 

